Libyans abroad start to vote in historic election

Published July 4th, 2012 - 15:57 GMT

Ahead of the historic election on July 7, 2012 in Libya, Libyans abroad began voting on 4 July.

Ahead of the historic election on July 7, 2012 in Libya, Libyans abroad began voting on 4 July. The elections are for 200 seats at the National Congress that will replace the Transitional National Council (TNC). The National Congress will then appoint a prime minister and 60 members to draft a new constitution.

The vote started among others in Canada, where 3000-3500 Libyan Canadians registered to vote in the country. Canada is not the only country to allow Libyan expatriates to vote for this historic election. Five other countries perform the same process: the United Kingdom, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Germany.

Meanwhile, the last Prime Minister of Libya's Qaddafi era, Baghdadi Mahmoudi, reiterated his innocence while speaking to reporters from his prison in Tripoli, on Tuesday. He also denied having been abused.

"I am not guilty. I am not guilty. I am not guilty," reiterated Mahmoudi. His interview was organized by the Libyan authorities. "I am sure of myself and my innocence" continued Mahmoudi, who said he was ready "to be tried by the Libyan people."

The Former Prime Minister added that he was anxious "to see out the truth" and did not comment on the incitements to rape, murder and kidnapping, according to the Libyan prosecutor's office. "My defense will be in court," he said.

The former Libyan Prime Minister explained he remained loyal to Muammar Gaddafi due to the fear that Libya once again will become a colony. "The negative (in the Libyan revolution) was the foreign intervention," he stressed.